Smart Energy News

Fremont, Calif. — Redwood Systems, a provider of energy-efficient lighting technology, announced it has raised about $12 million in its third round of venture capital, which included participation from Battery Ventures, U.S. Venture Partners, Index Ventures and Mitsui & Co.

Founded in 2008, Redwood Systems offers technology for efficient low-voltage DC power and control for workplace lighting fixtures using a “high-density” sensor network. Its approach, according to the company, allows the system to provide an average of 75% energy savings, as well as gathering data around power consumption, temperature and space utilization.

The company’s customers include Facebook, SAP and Volkswagen.

Redwood recently established operations in Europe, where it signed EDF, the second largest electric utility company in France, as a customer.

Image credit: Redwood Systems

Redwood Systems website

Boulder, Colo. — Albeo Technologies, a privately held developer of solid-state LED lighting products for industrial and commercial markets, announced on Tuesday it has raised $8 Million in its third round of venture capital and debt financing, which was led by Braemar Energy Ventures.

Founded in 2004, Albeo makes LED lighting products for industrial and commercial buildings, such as cold storage, data centers, retail, schools and commercial buildings. The company says its LED lighting products offer energy savings up to 95% and a return on investment of one to three years.

In an announcement, Albeo said the new funding allows the company to increase “both the breadth of its LED lighting portfolio and depth of its channel presence.” The new capital will also create a stronger financial base that allows the company to continue its “rapid, sustainable growth,” the company said.

Other investors in Albeo include Green Spark Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank.

Image credit: Albeo

Albeo Technologies website

Livermore, Calif. – Bridgelux, a manufacturer of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), announced it has raised an additional $15 million in venture capital specifically to further accelerate research, development, and scaling of the company’s GaN-on-Silicon LED chip technologies, targeted for commercialization in 2013.

The company has now raised a total of about $200 million in venture capital since its founding in 2002.

Bridgelux offers energy-efficient LEDs for replacing traditional lamp and luminaire technologies with solid-state products for interior lighting such as track lighting and exterior applications, such as street lights.

The company’s new LED Array line products are designed to address the quantity of light, color rendering, and beam uniformity that are traditional challenges for LED products.

Investors in Bridgelux include VentureTech Alliance, Doll Capital Management, El Dorado Ventures, VantagePoint Venture Partners, Chrysalix Energy Management and Harris & Harris Group.

Bridgelux website

Sunnyvale, Calif. — Enlighted, a developer of technology for improving the energy efficiency of lighting used in buildings, has raised $14 million in a round of venture capital, which was led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Intel Capital.

Founded in 2009, Enlighted makes networked sense and control systems that enhance the efficiency and functionality of lighting.

Enlighted’s system provides lighting monitoring and control at the level of each fixture in the building. It can achieve between 50% and 75% energy savings in existing customer facilities, according to the company.

“Enlighted’s solution caught our attention because of its strong ROI and its simplicity. Installation is as easy as changing a light bulb and because,” said Trae Vassallo, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.  “Enlighted doesn’t change any existing wiring, there is no risk to mission critical infrastructure.”

Enlighted said it will use the new investment funding will support growth plans for its project pipeline and its efforts to deploy lighting and energy management platforms.

Enlighted website

Boston — Lumenpulse, a manufacturer of architectural LED-based lighting products, has raised $16 million in its first round of venture capital and debt, which included a loan and line of credit from Silicon Valley Bank.

Founded in 2006, Lumenpulse develops and makes LED-based fixtures for commercial, institutional, and urban applications. The company also specializes in the design, manufacturing and commissioning of large-scale, custom solid state lighting projects.

Its recent key landmark projects include BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, the Yale-New Haven Hospital atrium, the “Lantern of Hope” at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Ariz., and BMW’s U.S. headquarters in New York.

Lumenpulse’s founder and CEO, François-Xavier Souvay, previously acquired Luxtec Lighting Group in 1999 and grew it into a successful player in the commercial architectural lighting market, providing integrated lighting systems.

Lumenpulse website